Cannabis Edibles Explained and the Top 20 Favorites

For many people, the term "edibles" simply means any food, beverage, or mixture that has been infused or baked, with cannabis. Over the years they have had many names, such as hash cakes, medibles, space crackers, etc. Unlike smoked cannabis, edibles normally contain a higher concentration of the plant and can take a little longer to have an effect, but when eaten responsibly, the use of edibles is a great way to consume cannabis.

Cannabis can be found in more foods now

Consumption of cannabis edibles can be used for medical or recreational purposes, and many cannabis shops and dispensaries have detailed information on their products, and the compounds used in them. Traditionally, in places like Amsterdam, edible marijuana products were things like cakes, brownies, cookies, and tea. Nowadays, with the greater market for such things, they can be found in almost every type of food and drink. Cannabis is normally infused into oil or butter, as the cannabinoids are only alcohol-soluble, and must be extracted to be used in this way when adding it to cooking and baking.

Getting the right dose is tricky

One of the challenges of edibles is finding out what your "ideal" dose is. Edibles affect every user differently, so a little "trial and error" is required in reaching your perfect dosage. Consumption of the products affects people differently as well. How long it can take and the intensity of the impact is different for everyone and depends on many factors, such asmetabolism, tolerance, etc. Dispensaries normally recommend starting at around ten-milligram doses and working from there to attain your perfect blend.

Another thing that needs to be considered with cannabis edibles is that they are not FDA-regulated, so there can be huge variations in consistency, even between the same type of cookie bought in two different shops. So, if it is your first time to try edibles, keep in mind that there can be a large variance between products, even when the dosage stated is the same. Do not fall victim to the usual trend of eating too much at once. Smoking or vaping cannabis means that the effects are felt almost instantly, and you can more easily regulate how much you are ingesting. With edibles, the longer ingestion period means that, if you eat too many before the effects kick in, you could be in for a nasty surprise.

Understanding the effects of edibles

Edibles are fast becoming a popular alternative to smoking, and with more people unable to tolerate smoke, or not agreeing with the principle, it gives them a better way to enjoy their favorite pastime. Many people also find that ingesting edibles gives a calmer, more relaxing high than smoking, although predicting the effects of edibles beforehand can be tricky.

Ingestion through the lungs by smoking cannabis by joint, pipe, or bong is the faster way of getting the hit, but the effects also wear off quicker as well. A good joint can have a great, immediate effect, but you may find that the effects are gone after just an hour. With edibles, the hit is completely different. The effects can take from 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, but can last much longer than smoked cannabis. Depending on the dosage used, the effects have been known to last anywhere from four to twelve hours.

Smoking is well known to have a negative impact on a person's health. Because of this, edibles are becoming the more popular way to ingest cannabis. Moreover, the ingestion of edibles is much more discreet than that of smoking, and can still be consumed in places where smoking is banned, such as public buildings and offices.

Eating responsibly is the key

In some states,there is a regulation on the dosagethat one serving can have. In Colorado, for instance, each serving is limited to a maximum of 10 milligrams of THC. Someone with a smaller frame, or a new user, may even find this dosage too high for them and may want to try starting at five milligrams instead. Moreover, it should be noted that a single bar of cannabis-infused chocolate could contain as much as 100 milligrams of cannabis. Rich or dense products can also take longer to digest, increasing the time between ingestion and effects. Brownies, chocolates and other such heavy foods mean that you will have a long wait for the hit to kick in, while infused drinks and tinctures will take effect much faster, almost comparable to smoking.

Errl Cup held for second showing

Arizona was the recent host of the second "Errl Cup", and was held on July 8, 2017, at the American Royal Palace in Tempe, Phoenix. On show at the event were some of the most popular edibles from across the country, laid out for the Arizona MMJ Patients. Arizona was recently ranked fourth in the country for cannabis sales in 2015, and third highest for investment in the cannabis industry, nationwide. With the success of this second event, it is now being predicted that regular shows will be held all over the state before the end of the year.

Since California first legalized the use of medical marijuana in 1996, more and more states, as well as the District of Columbia, have been added to the list of cannabis-allowed places. And in every state that allows the use of cannabis, shops have sprung up selling all kinds of amazing cannabis-infused products. Everyone knows about the traditional "weed brownies" that date back to the 1960s. How about cannabis chewing gum? Or marijuana lollipops? Even candies can be used to get your hit of cannabis, without the need to smoke it.

The 10 most popular cannabis edibles loved by consumers

Everyone who ingests cannabis through edibles has their own favorite recipe or food. Whether that is in cakes, chocolate, or your favorite espresso,there is something for everyone, no matter what your tastes may be. Whether it is for the love of weed, or the need to use it for medical conditions, incorporating cannabis into your favorite recipes can make this "medicine" go down a little better, just like that "spoon full of sugar" of Mary Poppins fame.

Special weed brownies

The most famous, and still the most popular, brownies are easy to make and great to share with friends. If you are not a big fan of home-baking, you can even add the infused oil to the packet mixes from the supermarket, and get roughly the same effect. Instead of adding all the butter or normal oil to the mix, add the cannabis-infused oil as part of the mix, and then bake as normal.

No-bake cookies

A great idea for those who are not into baking, or do not have the time. Just mix sugar, cocoa powder, cannabis butter, and milk in a pan, and add 3 cups of oatmeal, some peanut butter, and vanilla. Pour the mixture onto a waxed baking sheet and let the cookies cool, or pop them in the fridge. perfect as a quick snack at any time of the day and night.

Marijuana tea

Another of the old favorites, tea has always been one of the most popular ways to enjoy cannabis in drinks. Simply soak the cannabis leaves in boiling water for around two hours, and add a tablespoon of marijuana or regular butter. First discovered thousands of years ago in China, this refreshing beverage can be taken hot or cold and you can also infuse regular leaves in with it for a more traditional taste.

Cannabis butter

This is a great recipe to learn to make because you can use it in many other forms of baking and cooking for your home-made cannabis edibles. Melt the butter in a pan, and add some dried, ground marijuana. Let it simmer until the cannabis has turned the butter a nice shade of green, and then strain, before pouring the mix into a tub and chilling in the fridge. Great to spread on toast of hot buns as a snack as well.

Hash cake

Maybe a visit to Amsterdam is a little extreme to taste the world-famous Dutch Hash Cakes, but you do not have to go that far. It is really simple to make and can be easily adapted with different treats depending on your taste. Melt butter in a pan, and add 8 grams of cannabis and 200 grams of sugar, and blend with a whisk. Fold in 250 grams of flour, a pint of milk, and two eggs, then add one teaspoon of baking powder and a pinch of salt. Whisk it until the batter is smooth, and turn it out into a baking tin. Bake until golden brown, and turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Now you have the traditional hash cake as if you were visiting Europe.

Weed ice cream

Cakes and biscuits have their appeal, but for the ice cream lovers among you, there is even a way to have cannabis ice cream. make the traditional ice cream the way you normally would, but add a quarter of an ounce of weed to the melted butter. Banana, rum, and honey make for a great flavor to contrast the weed, and after it has frozen, you can enjoy getting your high in the coolest way possible.

Butter cookies

An old favorite in the cookie stakes, butter cookies are simple to make and take very little time. Instead of using normal butter, use the cannabis butter you already made (we hope), and if you want to add a little more flavor, peanut butter works well with this recipe.

Magic pancakes

Who wants some weed for breakfast? Turning this traditional Canadian breakfast into a weed-soaked delight is simple and easy. Just replace the milk you use for the pancakes with marijuana-infused milk, and away you go. And do not forget the maple syrup for the sweetest breakfast ever.

Smores

Now you can even go camping and enjoy America's favorite camping snack, with marijuana. Making smores is a tradition around any campfire, and turning this traditional, backwoods delicacy into a delicious weed snack is easy. When building the smores, use cannabis-infused chocolate instead, and add the piping hot marshmallow on top before you add the top graham cracker. The marshmallow will melt the chocolate a little as it cools, making your weed smores the perfect thing for a campfire treat.

Hash Oreos

The favorite cookie of kids everywhere, even Oreos can be a smart weed-infused snack to take with you anywhere. Take the pack of cookies, and split them in half, removing the delicious cream filling. Mix that with some weed-infused Jell-O, and blend it to make it smooth. Spread the mix liberally on the cookie halves, and stick them back together before putting them in the freezer to set. Once done, you have the famous Oreo cookies, with your own hash filling. Just keep them away from the kids!

The most unusual edible cannabis products

While there are many ways to cook cannabis into your baking and your food, there are even more ways to buy cannabis-infused edibles that are just like the favorite treats you love in normal snacks. And there are hundreds of ready-made cannabis treats on the market today to delight your taste buds, and make every day a weedy snack day.

Raspberry macaroons

These mini cakes are a delicious treat that makes everyone smile. And with the added cannabis oils used when making them, that smile will be even bigger.

Reefer jerky

Just like the beef jerky grandpa was always chewing on, this beef-hash jerky is infused with THC, and is surprisingly good. Although it is not sold in many places.

Weed lollipops

The THC content may be a little lower than most edibles, but who could resist a candy lollipop – in a variety of flavors – that is infused with your favorite weed. And for the size, it has a fairly high amount of THC.

Chocolate truffles

For the residents of Manhattan's Upper West Side, there is even a truffle chocolate that is infused with cannabis. For the real cannabis connoisseur, these delicious delights are infused with 150 milligrams of THC in each truffle.

Candy jewels

These jolly rancher-type hard candies have 100 milligrams of THC in each little gem. This is another treat you can carry around with you. Just pop one in your mouth whenever you want a hit.

Cinnamon maple

A small jar of nut treats that have a really smooth THC taste. Coated with a THC-infused sugary crust, the nuts are well worth trying.

Peanut butter cup

They may not be made by Reese's, but they are as close as you will find anywhere. It appears that, if a snack company can make a treat, someone will add cannabis to it. What a great idea.

Chewy taffy

One of the simplest treats you can find, cannabis-infused taffy, in a wide variety of flavors, is probably the most fun way to ingest your regular dose of THC, without smoking it.

White chocolate

It is a little hard to imagine mixing white chocolate with cannabis, but it really works well. The creamy taste of the white chocolate enhances the flavor of the weed, making it a delicious way to enjoy chocolate.

Orange weed popsicle

So, while there are companies producing your favorite chocolates and cookies infused with weed, there is even one that is making your hash into a popsicle. The orange flavor is perfectly blended into the popsicle so that you will not even notice that you are ingesting the THC. At around 52 milligrams of THC per popsicle, this is one high that is going to take a long time to come down from.

Whatever your flavor, whatever your taste, you can be sure that someone, somewhere, has come up with your ideal weed snack. And if they have not? You can always invent your own, There is a huge market for cannabis edibles today.